[center][h1]Rider[/h1]

"Ready? Is that a joke, 'Master'?"

Materializing behind his petite and child-like "Master", Rider carried an eager grin on his hardened yet ruggedly handsome face. Moonlight glimmered off the surface of the silver armor that encased him, his long scarf billowing slightly in the gentle wind. Training his eyes down upon the girl that audaciously called herself his master, they carried that same predatory glint that she would have undoubtedly become accustomed to by this point.

"I've been beyond bored waiting for this war to start," he reminded her.

His restlessness had indeed been maddening. Why had she chosen to summon him so far ahead of time? An entire week loitering around her estate without a chance to even wet his spear with the blood of a powerful foe...it was torture for a warrior such as he. Every inch of his form ached to taste the fires of battle once more, to be serenaded by the cacophony of screams that only war could grant him. 

Yes, yes he was indeed ready.

Running a gauntletted hand through his mess of blond hair, he rested his spear on his left shoulder. "Find me someone worth killing, 'Master'. That is the one thing I demand of you."

[hr]

[h1]Cassandra Edelfelt[/h1]

The catacombs beneath Redrock were many, many centuries old. Ancient, some might say. The Aronathi people - a Native American tribe - built them in the times before Columbus. The skulls of their dead littered the walls, packed tightly against one another within the numerous and maze-like corridors. It was, of course, strictly off-limits. It held great archeological value, after all...no normal person would ever be permitted to simply enter here as they please.

Unfortunately for those tasked with enforcing these laws, they had little defense against Magecraft. It had been an almost effortless task for Cassandra Edelfelt to make the appropriate alterations to their memories. They now believed her to be an Archeologist in the throes of some important research on the Aronathi people, research that required her to not be troubled by their presence in the slightest.

She had been here for weeks now, preparing her defenses for the war to come. Establishing a powerful bounded field here had, of course, been the first step, followed by a wide assortment of traps that took full advantage of the naturally confusing layout of the catacombs. It was quite fun to curse one of the many skulls lining the wall, allowing it blend back in seamlessly with its brethren. It made her almost hope someone would attempt to brave them, just to watch them stumble upon one of her many, many surprises.

She had also created a great number of familiars - rats! - to act as her eyes and ears in Redrock. Small, quick and loathsomely common, few would panic at their presence. Even now, they scurried about, searching for the opposition.

Of course, the outcast Edelfeldt's ability to use Magecraft in the construction of traps and agents was still far beneath that of her Servant, whom had been summoned a week prior. Any enhancements she was able to make to their defenses had, of course, been welcomed.

Cassandra smirked, easing back in her office chair within a room deep within the catacombs. A wireless monitor displayed for her the latest episode of Flash available on Netflix. Pushing her glasses up on her nose, she briefly entertained the notion of the wifi connection tipping off her location...but no.

Most Magi didn't even consider technology, being far too caught up in family traditions to even lower themselves to the level of the ignorant masses. Besides, it was as if anyone would think to just search for an internet signal over some ancient catacombs.

Watching the monitor for but a quick moment longer, she paused it. "Caster, have our familiars spotted anything? Perhaps someone taking an ill-advised stroll?"[/center]